The Opelousas courier., 1887-07-02
YAM"

Siomueu UothaIl, anu WalCneQ ner a.
she dancel here and there like a sun
beam, the merriest of her crowd of old
fashionedlittle playmates, they said she
was q tomboy. A wee girl of nine,
brighter than girls usually are at that
age, with the Unborn fun-loving nature
seen in every action of her 1.-THE, grace
full form; in the mischicvous nap of he1
large blue eyes; in the t,s ing of hel
sua-glinted, brown locks; and soul in
her rollicking light-heartcd laugh. She
had, in an evil hour, been named Mary
Ann, after a staid old spinster aunt,
whom none but her grandmother seemed
to distinctly recollect. No one liked
the name, and, rcsenting the ancient
DANES want of taste in the selection of a
suitable name for a pretty, modern
child, they dubbed her Molly Or May, in
a vain attempt to give the name some
attractivencss; but the grandmother,
tacitly feared by all, insisted upon the
adoption of the entire name, unchanged.
But who would have thought Of apply
ing the dignity Of such a name to a girl
who climbed trees, leapcd over fences,
played marbles, and skated here and
there with the boys? Aud so, by de-
grees, the name fell into disuse, and was
gradually corrupted until she was known
everywhere as Yam"
A 'onboy, the neighbors said, as they
upliftcd AIDS and eyes in righteous
horror at each new prank and fresh new
freak Of this winsomc little fairy. No,
not a tomboy. Only a child, with all
the sprightliness of youth, enjoying
Gods sunshine in freedom, before the
darker days come to shackle her with
sorrow and care, and shut out the sun
light with clouds of adversely, AS she
grew older, her womanly qualities de-
ve,oped. Who was as neat and quick
as t'Yan2' Who else could con lure up
such interesting pastimcs2 Who else
was as handy with a needle2 Who so
gentle and kindly a nurse? Not even
the mother, who, aged beyondher years,
too stern and unbending for q mother,
grew away from her children from their
birth. The children took naturally to
YAM" until the entire care of baby
brothers and sisters devolved upon her,
and her marvellous housewifely accom-
plishments, SO rare in these days, were
the talk of the neighborhood. She was
still o tomboyto the neighbors, for, when
household cares. were ended, she was
the gayest of the youthful circle; a tire
less graceful darcer of the s.E mer-
AIDA" "Varsouvienne," and others
OF those old dances of
the days gone by; her laugh the mcr-
riest, her song the sweetest. Then the
war came. Down there in the wilds OF
Virginia, on the battlefield of Pennsyl-
sania and Maryland, many a bluc-coated
hero blessed the brown-haired little
tomboy in the great northern metropolis.
She was the busiest worker in the sew
ing circle; an upon thrusting his grimy
hand into a stocking sent in one of those
wonderful boxes packed and sent BY the
northern girls, many a boy in blue
found the j~olliest little letter from
YAM encouraging him, and nerving
him on to the struggle for honor, glory,
and right. And at night, hot tears
from battle strained eyes CLEANED in the
rcd-light ofthe bivouac, as they fell upon
the tracery Of .'Yan's'' magic pen.
By an by q soldier-boy came home
and claimed .Yan" as his own forever.
When, on the eve Of their parting, The
had kissed him good-by, and tel knots
of bright hair-ribbon to his smcoth
drum-sticks, she Whispered q promise
which SD, INTENDED 10 keep, and when
he came gave herself TO him in simple
t~rustfulness. She might have done bet
ter, they said. He was wild and un.
steady, loved an occasional dram, and
lack. ID self-e ontrol, but s.Yanv was true,
faithful through a!-scparatioD, intcm-
perance, and ill-usage. They cruelty
told her that her babi boy WAS his
fathers son in all respects and traits Of
character. That he would inherit his
tastes snl depravity, and for his fathers
{ sey disiscd him and were cold
with tie j noccnt child. Helpless. "
ing in las cradle, with his big, wonde--
ing blue eyes turned upon a world that
seemed to bcgrudge him the
air he breatfcd, he was visited
with the SINS OF his father ;
but proud, faithful, and loving, she
threw up her shield OF motherhood, and
protected him from the Bullets Of
tho world. Al true wife and mother
through ALA strange future for q tom
boy. Year by ye~arsorrows came death.
Disappointment, MI the anguish 81
lifetime. Tho brown tresses wcre Be-
ginning to thread with gray, her eyes
softened, ard grew sad. her laugh and
Der song departed. But il her sweet